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MAURICE BISHOP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT [January 2018]

Reading Time 1 minsThe Government of Grenada has recently announced plans for a major upgrade of the Maurice Bishop International Airport. These plans include the construction of a new runway alongside the original runway that was the source of controversy engineered by the US State Department under President Ronald Reagan.  As a recognition of the historical value of the airport to the Grenadian people and the sacrifices that made it possible, Big Drum Nation is proud to republish a small but hugely important publication put out by the Grenada Forum in January of 1998. Introduced by Nadia Bishop and authored… Read More »MAURICE BISHOP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT [January 2018]

Maurice Bishop’s 1983 Hunter College Speech, an Historical Turning Point

Reading Time 7 minsBDN Intro Great speeches have marked pivotal historical turning points in the life of movements. A sampling of these great speeches are Sojourner Truth’s “Aint I a Woman” (1851), Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” (Washington D.C., 1963), Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie 1963 speech delivered to the United Nations (popularized in the Bob Marley song “War”), Dr. Eric Eustace Williams’ 1960 “March in the Rain” speech (demanding the return of Chagaramas), Fidel Castro’s “History Will Absolve Me” (1961), and Ida B. Wells’ “This Awful Slaughter” (1909). Grenada’s revolutionary leader Maurice Bishop’s June 5, 1983, speech to… Read More »Maurice Bishop’s 1983 Hunter College Speech, an Historical Turning Point

Women Need True Power — Jennifer Gibbs

Reading Time 1 mins March 8 is celebrated globally as International Women’s Day (IWD). Originally organized by the Socialist Party of America, the celebrations first took place in February 1909 and were called International Working Women’s Day.  Big Drum Nation is commemorating the occasion by posting women’s reflections on the struggle for equality. Every year the celebrations embrace a special theme reflecting the urgency of the moment. This year, proceeding from the World Economic Forum’s prediction that the gender gap is unlikely to close entirely until 2186, the theme addresses this unacceptable state of gender inequity as a human rights… Read More »Women Need True Power — Jennifer Gibbs

Women’s Rights are Human Rights — Keisha-Gaye Anderson

Reading Time 2 minsFirst published, March 8, 2017. Republished March 8, 2022 March 8 is celebrated globally as International Women’s Day (IWD). Originally organized by the Socialist Party of America, the celebrations first took place in February 1909 and were called International Working Women’s Day.  Big Drum Nation is commemorating the occasion by posting women’s reflections on the struggle for equality. Every year the celebrations embrace a special theme reflecting the urgency of the moment. This year, proceeding from the World Economic Forum’s prediction that the gender gap is unlikely to close entirely until 2186, the theme addresses this unacceptable state… Read More »Women’s Rights are Human Rights — Keisha-Gaye Anderson

Celebrating all that is Positive about Being a Woman — Ann Farray

Reading Time 1 mins Originally Published March 7, 2017. Republished March 8, 2022 March 8 is celebrated globally as International Women’s Day (IWD). Originally organized by the Socialist Party of America, the celebrations first took place in February 1909 and were called International Working Women’s Day.  Big Drum Nation is commemorating the occasion by posting women’s reflections on the struggle for equality. Every year the celebrations embrace a special theme reflecting the urgency of the moment. This year, proceeding from the World Economic Forum’s prediction that the gender gap is unlikely to close entirely until 2186, the theme addresses this… Read More »Celebrating all that is Positive about Being a Woman — Ann Farray

Bob Marley 1 : 0 Reggae Boys — Richard Grant

Reading Time 4 mins03/05/2017 Richard Grant It is Pan-African, Pan-Caribbean, Pan-World. It is Pan Man. It endears Jamaica to the entire world; the essence of the Rastaman Bob Marley’s music and philosophy. It is One Love. The One Love ideal of social relations works well as a cultural and political construct. It is inclusive; a necessary myth for nation building, for positive international relations and for world peace, but it severely limits the goal average of Jamaica’s football team. Let’s get to the point. Jamaicans need to make an important decision on February 6th 2017 about Bob Marley. Betta mus… Read More »Bob Marley 1 : 0 Reggae Boys — Richard Grant

Happy Earthday to Brother Bob Marley, the Trench Town Messiah – Martin P. Felix

Reading Time 2 mins2017-02-06 Martin P. Felix “Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?‘ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see‘.“ — John 1:46. Like his biblical counterpart, Bob Marley took a socratic approach to unpack that recurring question loaded with upper class prejudice: “Can anything good come out of Trench Town?” and, with Philipian confidence, answered in the affirmative “…everyone see what’s taking place… / Another page in history.” And indeed it is. Bob Marley was born on this day, February 6, 72 years ago in rural Nine Miles, Saint Ann, Jamaica but later moved to Trench Town where he spent his formative… Read More »Happy Earthday to Brother Bob Marley, the Trench Town Messiah – Martin P. Felix

Sir Alister McIntyre, “The Caribbean Man” – Winthrop R. Holder [3 of 3]

Reading Time 8 mins2017/01/28 Preparing UWI for the Challenges of the 21st Century: An Interview with Vice Chancellor Sir Alister McIntyre [**Reprint**] Link to part 1 Link to part  2 “If we don’t know from where we comin’ / Then we cyah plan where we goin”. – Black Stalin, Caribbean Unity (1979) Born in St. Georges, Grenada, Sir Meredith Alister McIntyre is considered one of the Caribbean’s eminent thought shapers and academicians. This highly celebrated Caribbean integrationist and internationalist has served the Caribbean in various capacities, representing the region in many international forums. The December 12, 2016, launch of Sir McIntyre’s book, The Caribbean And The… Read More »Sir Alister McIntyre, “The Caribbean Man” – Winthrop R. Holder [3 of 3]

Sir Alister McIntyre, “The Caribbean Man” – Winthrop R. Holder [2 of 3]

Reading Time 6 mins2017-01-25 Preparing UWI for the Challenges of the 21st Century: An Interview with Vice Chancellor Sir Alister McIntyre [**Reprint**] Link to part 1 “If we don’t know from where we comin’ / Then we cyah plan where we goin”. – Black Stalin, Caribbean Unity (1979) Born in St. Georges, Grenada, Sir Meredith Alister McIntyre is considered one of the Caribbean’s eminent thought shapers and academicians. This highly celebrated Caribbean integrationist and internationalist has served the Caribbean in various capacities, representing the region in many international forums. The December 12, 2016, launch of Sir McIntyre’s book, The Caribbean And The Wider World: Commentaries on… Read More »Sir Alister McIntyre, “The Caribbean Man” – Winthrop R. Holder [2 of 3]

Sir Alister McIntyre, “The Caribbean Man” – Winthrop R. Holder [1 of 3]

Reading Time 5 mins2017-01-22 Preparing UWI for the Challenges of the 21st Century [**Reprint**] “If we don’t know from where we comin’ / Then we cyah plan where we goin”. – Black Stalin, Caribbean Unity (1979) Born in St. Georges, Grenada, Sir Meredith Alister McIntyre is considered one of the Caribbean’s eminent thought shapers and academicians. This highly celebrated Caribbean integrationist and internationalist has served the Caribbean in various capacities, representing the region in many international forums. The December 12, 2016, launch of Sir McIntyre’s book, The Caribbean And The Wider World: Commentaries on My Life and Career, has come with great anticipation because of… Read More »Sir Alister McIntyre, “The Caribbean Man” – Winthrop R. Holder [1 of 3]